Staying Connected When the Pandemic Disconnects Us: 30 Days of Paying It Forward
Socially distancing for physical health can have the opposite effect on our mental health. We are social beings, created to connect meaningfully with other human beings. When we lose that, we lose part of ourselves…
Read MoreThe Joy of Homemade Gifts and Cards
As the pandemic surges and we are faced with extended hours of isolation from friends and family, where holiday travel is limited, and a general mood of stress is heightened, we rely on other forms of communication…
Read MoreFalls in Older Adults Statistics
Falls are a major problem that affects many older Americans. These falls can generate high medical costs and often result in surgeries and extended hospital stays. There are many reasons why older Americans may be more susceptible to falls compared with their younger peers. The remainder of this piece will explore some statistics related to […]
Read More4 Memoirs to Wrap Up for Others – or Yourself
This year has been a learning experience for all of us. During this season of thanking and giving and taking time to reflect on the wild ride of 2020, I bring you four of my favorite non-fiction books. All are memoirs revolving…
Read MoreHow to Connect with Young Grandchildren During the Covid Winter
As winter looms, many of us who’ve been able to socially distance with grandchildren outside are now grieving for the near future when the weather will prevent even that abbreviated interaction with our beloved progeny…
Read MoreThe Art of Writing Creative Eulogies
The holiday season is often marked by the loss of loved ones, so it’s a good idea to be prepared for the inevitable. I am a well-published writer, so it seems that when a close friend or family member dies, I’m asked to write the eulogy.
Read MoreHow Much Does It Cost to Retire to Mexico?
Over a million Americans and half that many Canadians live in Mexico. Likely just as many live in the country part-time and unreported, keeping an address in the US (as I do). Living in Mexico is the answer for many who fear their lives…
Read MoreGathering Our Financial Family Around Us
Talking around the dinner table as a young girl is where I heard the story of my grandma Helen’s first husband. It turned out that 1941, the year of the Pearl Harbor attack, was also a year that will live in infamy in the history of my family…
Read MoreHow I Tried – and Failed – to Box My Grief Over My Mother’s Death
I had a vivid dream the other night. I was preparing to teach a class, but I couldn’t find my notes. As the time for the class drew nearer, I got increasingly stressed that I’d lost my window to prepare. In and of itself, that dream isn’t…
Read MoreChicken Soup for the Immune System
My wife is recovering from the flu. I know she is feeling better because she is bustling around the kitchen making her grandmother’s chicken soup, a highly guarded secret recipe. Then she suddenly turns to me and asks, “Where exactly…
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